Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Scientists Deliver 'God' Via A Helmet

Posted by Zonk on from the don't-forget-the-devil-in-the-details dept.

prostoalex writes "Scientific American is reporting on scientific work done to map the euphoric religious feelings within the brain. As a result, it's now quite possible to experience 'proximity to God' via a special helmet: 'In a series of studies conducted over the past several decades, Persinger and his team have trained their device on the temporal lobes of hundreds of people. In doing so, the researchers induced in most of them the experience of a sensed presence — a feeling that someone (or a spirit) is in the room when no one, in fact, is — or of a profound state of cosmic bliss that reveals a universal truth. During the three-minute bursts of stimulation, the affected subjects translated this perception of the divine into their own cultural and religious language — terming it God, Buddha, a benevolent presence or the wonder of the universe.""

6 of 1,020 comments (clear)

  1. This is the closest to God you can ever get by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    First post.

  2. Proof! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    This is proof that Science is a Tool of the Devil!

    Oh, Jebus, curse these rotten, immoral Satanic Scientists to the ever-lasting hell they deserve!

  3. Magic helmet by MillionthMonkey · · Score: 5, Funny

    Bugs Bunny: [singing] Oh, mighty warrior of great fighting stock! Might I inquire to ask-Eh, [eats a carrot] what's up, Doc?
    Elmer Fudd: [singing] I am going to kill the Wabbit!
    Bugs Bunny: [singing] Oh, mighty hunter, twil be quite a task. How will you do it? Might I inquire to ask?
    Elmer Fudd: [singing] I will do it with my spear and magic helmet!
    Bugs Bunny: [singing] Your spear and magic helmet?
    Elmer Fudd: [singing] Spear and magic helmet!
    Bugs Bunny: [singing] Magic helmet?
    Elmer Fudd: [singing] Magic helmet!
    Bugs Bunny: Magic helmet.

  4. I guess they came to the wrong conclusion... by Keyper7 · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...after seeing the volunteer scream "Oh, GOD! Oh, GOD!" while being stimulated.

    I think they discovered a G-something, but not exactly God.

  5. Re:Surely this includes the hallucinations by Propaganda13 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Since Jesus apparently had other siblings, why do people still refer to his mother as virgin? Since Joe Jackson wore shoes, why do people still refer to him as Shoeless Joe Jackson? /sarcasm
  6. Re:Surely this includes the hallucinations by ozmanjusri · · Score: 4, Funny
    I think I'd rather go for the acid.

    Hey, Christianity is the belief that a cosmic Jewish zombie, who was his own father, can make you live forever if you eat his flesh.

    What's not to like?

    --
    "I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."